OUACHITA PARISH MAN CITED FOR TAKING WILD TURKEY IN CLOSED SEASON

A Ouachita Parish man was cited by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents on Jan. 5 for allegedly taking a wild turkey during a closed season, hunting turkey with a rifle and hunting turkey without a turkey license.

Joel R. Guess Jr., 46, of West Monroe, was questioned after agents received an anonymous tip that he killed a turkey in November while hunting deer in Caldwell Parish. The investigation led the agents to a taxidermist shop in Ouachita Parish where they located a turkey gobbler with an 11-inch beard that appeared to have been shot with a rifle. Agents located Guess at his residence where he allegedly admitted to shooting the wild turkey with a rifle after mistaking it for a hog. The turkey and a 7mm magnum rifle were seized as evidence. Guess will also be assessed civil restitution payable to LDWF in the amount of $802.50 for the value of the wild turkey.

The penalty for taking turkeys during a closed season is a fine between $900 and $950, or jail for not more than 120 days, or both plus courts costs. The penalty for hunting turkeys with a rifle is a fine between $250 and $500, or jail for not more than 90 days, or both plus courts costs. The penalty for hunting turkeys without a turkey license is a fine of $50 or jail for not more than 15 days.